Sand-pipe cleaning mechanism



Oct.24, 1933. A. F. EVERHART SAND PlPE CLEANING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 9, 1932 Jnventor Gttornegs Patented Get. 24, 1933 unite STAES r d? SAND-PIPE CLEANING MECHANISM Audley F. Everhart, Dnnlo, Pa. Application September 9, 1932. Serial No. 632,443

1 Claim. (01. 291 ss) This invention has reference to sand boxes designed for use on locomotives, street railway cars or the like, the primary object of the invention being to provide a sand box having means whereby sand which may collect at the discharge pipe and prevent the passage of sand from the sand box, may be dislodged, thereby insuring the flow of sand. at all times.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be readily and easily positioned within the usual sand box, without the necessity of making alterations in the usual sand box construction to install the device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for operating the device from a point remote from the sand box, means being provided for resetting the mechanism automatically.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational View illustratingsand boxes equipped with a device constructed in accordance with the invention, one of the sand boxes being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of an agitating rod, forming a part of the device.

Figure 6 is a view illustrating a modified form of agitating rod.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 designates a sand box, which is of the usual and well known construction, the.

same being provided with a hinged closure 6, closing the opening at the top of the sand box, and through which sand is poured into the sand box.

At the lower end of the sand box is a discharge opening into which the pipe 7 extends, the pipe 7 being of a length to extend to a point adjacent to the wheels of the rolling stock carrying the sand box.

Pivotally mounted within the sand box 5, is a rod 8, that has a handle 9 at the upper end thereof, the handle 9 beingprovided to rotate the rod 8. At the lower end of the rod 8 is a blade 10, designed to move over the discharge opening of the sand box, to close the discharge opening, and prevent the sand from passing from the sand box.

The attachment forming the essence of the present invention, includes a casing 11, which is secured within the sand box, by means of the bolts 12 and supporting legs 13.

As clearly shown by Figure 3 of the drawing, the casing is provided with an offset portion 14 in which the gear 15 operates, which gear is mounted on one end of the shaft 16 that is supported in a bearing formed in one side of the sand box.

Mounted on the shaft 16, is apulley 17 to which the cable 18 is secured, the cable being wound on the pulley, so that when the cable is pulled the pulley will be rotated, rotating the shaft.

A coiled spring 19 connection with one side of the sand box, the opposite end thereof being connected to the pulley 17, so that when the cable is pulled and the pulley rotated, the coiled spring will. be placed under tension, to rotate the shaft 18 and wind the cable 18 on the pulley, resetting the mechanism.

Disposed within the casing 11, is a rack bar 20, the teeth thereof being disposed adjacent to the gear 15 so that they mesh, with the result that movement of the gear 15 results in a sliding movement of the rack bar 26.

Connected to the lower end of the rack bar 20, is an agitating rod 21 that is of a length to extend through an opening in the bottom of the casing 11, where the same normally lies in a position opposite to the discharge opening of the sand box.

Thus it will be seenthat upon downward movement of the rack bar 20, the rod is thrust through the discharge opening and into the pipe 7, agitating the sand which may collect at the discharge opening, so that the sand will be fed through the pipe 7, and to the tracks to be sanded.

In the form of the invention as shown by Figure 6 of the drawing, the agitating rod which is indicated by the reference character 22, is formed with a coiled spring portion 23, providing a yieldable end for the agitating rod, so that the same may bend through the curved upper end of the discharge pipe, dislodging the sand.

The rear edge of the rack bar 20 is cut away providing extensions 24 that contact with the inner Wall of the casing 11, holding the rack bar in its proper operating position. A stop pin 25 extends into the casing and lies in the path of travel of the extensions 24, to limit the vertical movement of the rack bar 20, and prevent the closure, a'further detailed disclosure of the mechanism is unnecessary.

I claim:

The combination with a sand box having a discharge opening, of a sand agitating means comprising a casing mounted Within the sand box, a pinion mounted Within the casing, a shaft on which the pinion is mounted, a pulley mounted on the shaft, a cable Wound on the pulley for rotating the pulley and shaft, means for automatically Winding the cable on the pulley reset--v ting the device, a rack bar meshing with the pinion and operated by the pinion, and an agitating rod mounted on the rack bar for agitating sand in the sand box.

AUDLEY F. EVERHART.

Mil 

